Adjustable diaphragm plate



R. W. TADD ADJUSTABLE DTAPHRAGM PL'ATE Fild Sept. 4, 1923 R VY. ,md M a@d m 3 T v1T.. A 2 2 W W/ @M .a R ML 9 Mv H1.. a w M x y 4 1 Mmm 1 wllll Patented Apr. 14, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE.

ROY W. TADD, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

ADJUSTABLE DIAIHRAGM PIZLA'II'..v

y Application filed September 4, 1923. Serial No. 660,696.

To all whom t 'may concern:

13e it known that I, ROY 1V. Tann, a citizen of the United States,residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State ofCalifornia, have invented new and useful lmprovenients in AdjustableDiaphragm Plates, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to valves and particularly to control andregula-ting valves for acetylene torches,A and the general objectthereof is to provide improved clamping means for the diaphragm ofsuchvalves, by means of which the diaphragm may be adjusted and clan'iped insuch manner as to maintain it bowedV outwardly to pre-vent collapsingthereof under the, influence of the Yvalve springs, thus increasing thelife of the diaph agm and eliminating friction burn in the valve nozzle.

Other objects and advantages willappear hereinafter and while I showherewith and will describe a preferred form of' my invention, I desireit to be understood that I do not limit myself to such preferred formbut that various changes and adaptations may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention as hereinafter claimed. l

Referringto the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a sidel elevation of an acetylene torch embodying a valveconstructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of my valve taken on line 2-2 of Fig.1.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the diaphragm clamping disk.

Fig. 4 is an edge view of said disk.

In the drawing 1 indicates a pipe leading from an acetylene tank; 2 apressure gauge for indicating the pressurej in the tank con- .nectcd tosaid pipe by connection 3; 4 a

control and regulating valve connected to said pipe 1; 5 a pipe leadingto a torch nozzie; and 6 a pressure gauge for indicating the torchpressure, said pipe and said gauge G being connected by connection 7 tothe valve 4.

The valve 4 is of standard constructionV with the exception of mydiaphragm clamping disk 8. The inner face 9 of said disk is of generalconcave formation but a pordisk isprovided with a central opening 12 toreceive the threaded shank 13 of the valve yoke 14 which yoke has ashoulder 15 which lits against the inner face of said diaphragm. Theouter face ofthe disk 8 has a central recess 1G to receive the inner endof the outer diaphragm Vspring 17 and lugs 18V project outwardly fromthe disk at the edge of said recess to center said inner end of saidspring within said recess. A nut 19 screws on the outer end ofy thethreaded shan-k 13 against the outer side. of the disk 8 or against thesurface of the. recess 16, said nut being provided with an annularflange 2O at its base against which iiange bears the .inner end of theinner diaphragm spring 21 which surrounds the body of said nut. Theouierends of springs 17 and 21 bear against a head= 22;

The valve casing is made in threesec-- tions, a body section 25 and endsections 2.6 and 27, the end'` sectiony 2G being screw. seated in oneendi `of section 25 at 28 and the end section 27 being screw seated onthe other end of the body section asatl 29.v The diaphragm 11 restsagainst the end of section 25 on which end section 27 seats. A handscrew 30 is seated in the outer end of casing section and engages thehead 22 for adjusting the tension of springs 19 and 21 against the disk8 and the diaphragm 11.

The connection 3 extends into the casing section 25 and is formed with aconical nozzle 31 on its inner end adapted to seat in a spring mountedseat 32 in a head 33, said seat being formed with a stud 34 slidablymounted in a bearing 35 in the end of the casing section 26, and aspring 36 surrounds said bearing and stud and bearing at its endsagainst the end wall of said casing section and said head respectively'for' .normally holding said head against the end of yoke 14 and thereduced portion 37 of said head within the endv of the yoke.

The springs 17 and 21 are adjusted so that the yoke 14 will hold thehead23 in position with the nozzle 31 vslightly ofi its seat 32 so that theproper amount of gas will pass out ofsaid nozzle and between the nozzleand said seat into the valvecasing. Whenthe pressure of the gas in thevalve casing becomes excessive it expands the diaphragm 11 outwardlywhich moves the yoke 14 outwardly and the spring 36 forces the head 33in the same direction so that the nozzle' 31 seats firmly within theseat 32, thus shutting oil the gas so that it cannot enter the valvecasing.

The collapsing of diaphragms in other valves causes the yoke 14 to forcethe head 23 and the seat 32 away from the'nozzle 31 so that the gasrushing out of the nozzle and 'from between the nozzle and the seatcauses friction burn of the nozzle and we-ar ing of the same, whichrenders the valve ineffective. Y

By the use of my disk S, collapsing of the diaphragm is prevented. Anyloss of resiliency ofthe diaphragm may be taken up by tightening the nut19, which draws the diaphragm outwardly into the concavity 9 of thedisk, the convex portion 1() engaging the diaphragm to assist the diskin firmly clamping the diaphragm.

I claim as my invention: Y

1. In a valve as disclosed, in combination with the regulating diaphragmthereof, means for adjusting said diaphragm to prevent collapsingthereof.

2. In a valve as disclosed, in combination with the regulating diaphragmthereof, a concaved disk fitting against said diaphragm, springsengaging said disk, means connected to said diaphragm for normallyholding the valve open under the iniluence of said springs, and meansfor drawing the diaphragm into the concavity of said disk to take uploss of resiliency of the dia-V phragm.

3. In a valve as disclosed, in combination with the .regulatingdiaphragm thereof, a concaved disk iitting against .said diaphragm,springs engaging said disk, a yoke formed with a threaded shankextending through said diaphragm and said disk, a nut screwing on saidshank against the disk for drawing said diaphragm into the concavity ofthe disk to take up loss of resiliency of the diaphragm, a valve headengaged by said yoke whereby the valve is normally held open under theinfluence of said springs, and means engaging said head for closing thevalve when the spring pressure of said yoke is relieved from said headby excessive fluid pressure in the valve acting against said diaphragm.

` el. Ina valve as disclosed, in combination with the regulatingdiaphragm thereof, a concaved disk Vfittingagainst said diaphragmsprings engaging said disk, means connected to said diaphragm fornormally holding the valve open under the influence of said springs, andmeans for drawing the diaphragm inte the concavity of said disk to takeup the loss of resiliency of the diaphragm, the concaved :tace of thedisk being slightly convex' between its center and periphery to enablethe diaphragm to be firmly clamped in the eoncaved face of the disk, andmeans for closing the valve when the spring pressure is overcome by theex* cessive vfluid pressure in the valve acting upon said diaphragm.

ROY IV. TADD.

